Chels

For the first time since we started the game in 2020, I have lost my annual reading challenge against my cousin. In fact, this year I’ve possibly read the least amount of books since I learned to read. In 2025, I read 12 books, which still averages out at one each month – more than many people do, but significantly less than a lot of people who, like me, have jobs and hobbies that involve a lot of reading. I do have three books currently unfinished (which gives me a bit of a head start for 2026), but as per our rules, we can only add books that we finish – which also means DNF books can’t count.

For 2026, I’m not setting any reading goals (other than to win the reading challenge). I don’t want to hinge my enjoyment or satisfaction on an arbitrary number. Instead, I want to focus on getting around to the books I’ve always wanted to read, and taking time to enjoy them. I’ve picked out nine books that are on my 2026 reading list – categorised into fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Fiction

Fiction is usually my most read genre – as much as I love poetry, and lately I’m really getting into nonfiction, I find nothing more satisfying than getting lost in a story from beginning to end.

Several People are Typing

Several People are Typing was published in 2021, and satirises the then-very new work from home culture. I saw a lot of people recommending this book over the last year, and I’m also trying to get into horror. I love horror as a concept, but I’m very easily spooked. I love to read about horror, but being immersed in horror fiction can sometimes be too much for me. Several People are Typing blends horror and comedy, and I’m hoping it can serve as a gateway to more horror fiction in the future.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

I’ve been excited about this book since its release – in fact, I asked for the book for Christmas as soon as the paperback came out. The Emily Wilde series seems to me the perfect continuation of the books I loved as a child – exploring magical villages and fairies. It’s been neglected on my shelf because it’s the first book in the series, and I always try to save those for winter time, so that if I enjoy them I can ask for the sequels for Christmas. Unfortunately, by winter time, I’m usually halfway into a longer book that gets neglected for other winter activities. Perhaps this year I’ll finally break that habit.

The Wings of the Dove

The Wings of the Dove is one of my favourite films. I’d always wanted to read the novel, but so many people warned me that Henry James’ writing could be hard to get through, and the film was a good substitute. Then, I finally got to read some Henry James in my Modernist fiction module – In The Cage – and it was one of my favourite reads of the year – possibly even of my whole degree. I really loved the way the novella was written, and perhaps a full length novel will be different, but I’m excited to finally get around to reading it, over a decade after I first intended to.

Nonfiction

When I read nonfiction, I always enjoy it. I just find myself reaching for fiction more often. In the past, nonfiction for me has primarily consisted of celebrity autobiographies, but this year I’d like to expand my horizons, and I’m really excited about the nonfiction on my list.

Jane Austen’s Bookshelf

I first discovered Jane Austen’s Bookshelf in a Waterstones a few months ago, and I just knew it was the sort of thing I would love. Rebecca Romney is an expert in the history of books, and in this work, she examines the female writers that shaped Austen’s own reading and writing.

A History of the World in 47 Borders

Again, I first found this book in a Waterstones, and I definitely judged it by its cover – visually, the book looks really interesting. This year, I made a point to improve my geography skills, from countries and continents, to flags and capitals, and as the months went on, to the history and customs of countries. In a way, I’m treating this book as a reward for all the work I’ve put in this year to improve my knowledge.

On Being Ill

I love Virginia Woolf’s writing – I read a lot of her work early on in the year. On Being Ill is Woolf’s essay on illness and isolation, in particular, the value of illness as a literary subject. Woolf herself was ill for a lot of her life, both physically and mentally. Coincidentally, On Being Ill turns 100 years old this January.

Poetry

I’ve always loved poetry, and over the last year I’ve started to really find the poets that I most enjoy, in part thanks to Allie Esiri’s anthologies. This year I have a few poetry collections by poets I’ve been loving. I’d like to make an effort to read at least one poem a day, either when I wake up, or before I sleep.

Dog Songs

Mary Oliver is one of my all time favourite poets – I love the way she wrote about nature, and life in general. I also love my dog more than anything else in the universe, so Dog Songs seemed like the perfect choice for my first Mary Oliver collection.

Dream Songs

I hadn’t heard of John Berryman until my poetry module at uni, and I fell in love with his writing style. We read a couple of the dream songs, and they really spoke to me, so I’m excited to read all 77 of them. Berryman’s Dream Songs deal with identity and mental health, and they’re just so fascinating to parse.

The Sonnets and a Lover’s Complaint

Last but not least, I’d like to finally dive into Shakespeare’s sonnets. Of course, I’ve read a few of them – the most well-known, in school – but I’ve never actually sat down and read all of the sonnets. I had hoped to get through them before I started my Shakespeare module, but other reading got in the way. 

Those are my top nine hopeful reads for 2026. Will I get through them all? We’ll have to see. Usually I deviate from my reading list often, but hopefully I’ll read more than I did this year, and I’ll try to not buy more books through the year, instead, I’ll get through my ever growing pile of unread books.

Happy new year!